Renowned Filipino architect and urban planner Felino “Jun” Palafox Jr. praised the city’s officialdom for setting a vision for a creative, inclusive and livable city saying the city can also aim to become a first world city by 2028 and achieve it.
Palafox who was present during a town hall meeting where city officials presented the city’s scheme for realizing the new vision “Baguio 2043 – A Creative, Inclusive and Livable City” lauded the city for targeting to achieve a 60 percent open space and green cover comparable to Singapore which he said has 41 percent open spaces and Hong Kong, 71 percent.
Said target was part of the report of City Planning, Development and Sustainability Office (CPDSO) Coordinator Arch. Donna Tabangin on the city’s urban carrying capacity status where she presented the city’s goals to improve the city’s environmental carrying capacity and ultimately stop urban decay from being irreversible by 2043.
“Congratulations. You have very good plans and even very good goals,” Palafox said, noting that the city’s ideals are aligned with the urban planning visions he has for the country.
He said the city can also aspire to be a first world city by 2028 if it wants to.
“I think you can do it with your visionary leadership, strong political will, good planning and design and excellent management,” Palafox said.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong thanked Palafox and said his statement will be taken as a “challenge for us to step up and level up” in moving towards the achievement of the city’s goals to become a smart city by 2027, a resilient city by 2026 and a creative, inclusive and livable city by 2043. **Aileen P. Refuerzo
